Jersey City church minister stripped of duties by congregation following sexual assault allegations

The Star-Ledger reports that Donell Anderson, a Jersey City storefront church minister who was charged with sexually assaulting one woman in an Irvington cemetery and trying to assault another, has been stripped of his duties as church leader.

The Jersey City Church of Christ issued an announcement yesterday that said it was "extremely agonized and sorry to hear about the legal issues surrounding Donell Anderson," who has led the congregation since 2005.

A Montclair resident, the 39-year-old minister was arrested last week after authorities said he forced his victim into a minivan by posing as a police officer, displaying a badge and loaded handgun.

Driving to the Clinton Cemetery, he attempted to sexually assault the woman, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. The woman escaped and called police, according to The Star-Ledger report.

Anderson is accused of sexually assaulting an autistic woman in March at the same cemetery,